Payout formula developed for Boston Marathon bomb victims

The administrator of a fund created to help Boston Marathon bombing victims has a blunt message for them: Lower your expectations.

Attorney Kenneth Feinberg said at a public meeting Tuesday that the $28 million One Fund Boston won't pay out nearly enough to fully compensate the families of the three killed or the more than 260 injured, and may not pay much of anything to those with less serious injuries.

"There isn't enough money to pay everybody who justifiably expects it or needs it," he said.

As victims grappled with the effects of the bombing, there was no resolution about where to bury one of the two suspects in the attack.

Worcester funeral home director Peter Stefan says more than 100 people in the U.S. and Canada have offered burial plots for the body of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, killed in a shootout with police, but officials in the cities and towns where they're located have said no.

A Worcester police spokesman said Tuesday that officials are hopeful they can resolve the issue within the next few days. Tsarnaev's younger brother, Dzhokhar, is in a prison hospital facing charges that could bring the death penalty.

On Tuesday, the area near the marathon finish line, where two bombs went off April 15, was busy with pedestrians as Feinberg spoke with victims and others at the Boston Public Library, directly across from the site of the first explosion.

Feinberg's warning to lower expectations wasn't lost on Dan Loring, whose daughter, Brittany, was so badly hurt by shrapnel from the first blast that she was in the hospital for 11 days. But the severity of her injuries still means she won't qualify for the largest payments, leaving her father wondering about money for her care, including out-of-pocket expenses associated with her three surgeries and rehabilitation.

Loring, who lives in Lancaster, Mass., said he walked two miles to his Cambridge hotel "just to clear my head" after a similar meeting with Feinberg on Monday night that drew about 100 people. A few dozen were at Tuesday's session, which Loring also attended.

"After leaving last night, I'm not so confident now we'll see much, if anything," he said.

Loring is not relying entirely on One Fund Boston, as an online campaign for his daughter on GiveForward has raised nearly $100,000 as of Tuesday. One Fund Boston was nearing $28.5 million, with about $11.5 million in public donations and about $17 million from corporations.

Feinberg's draft plan for distributing the money reserves the highest payments for the families of the three killed in the bombings - Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell, Lu Lingzi - and for the family of MIT Police Officer Sean Collier, who was shot to death by the bombers as they attempted to flee. Those who suffered brain damage or double amputation of limbs also have top priority.

Next are those who had single limbs amputated, followed by those who were injured enough to require overnight hospital stays.

Although he hasn't proposed specific dollar amounts for compensation, Feinberg has said the families of those killed or those who had limbs amputated could end up receiving $1 million each from the fund.

Feinberg said as many as 15 to 20 victims needed single or double amputations. That means the number of larger payouts to those most seriously hurt could use up the bulk of the fund.

Gov. Deval Patrick and Mayor Thomas Menino have made speed in getting the money to those who need it a top priority, said Feinberg, who hopes to begin sending payments June 30.

But Feinberg emphasized the plan isn't final and asked audience members their opinions on thorny issues that would lengthen the process, including whether a person's income or insurance should be considered, with people who have more money getting smaller payouts.

During the two meetings, family members of victims presented sometimes excruciating dilemmas, including one woman who on Monday said her daughter lost one leg, and doctors were working to save her other one. The woman asked whether she should file for compensation as a single or double amputee.

Others, including Loring, think money should be given to everyone who was hurt in any way by the bombings, even if it means less money for those with the worst injuries. He said people who helped save his daughter are still suffering mentally, but aren't eligible for a claim.

"Of the ... people who donated (to The One Fund), if you polled them, they think it's going to all the victims, not a selected class," he said after the meeting Tuesday.

Some weren't sure what to ask Feinberg. Liz Norden, whose two adult sons each lost a leg in the bombing, said Monday that she's "just focusing on the care of my sons. ... I don't know what questions I'm supposed to be asking or not asking."

Feinburg acknowledged the dilemmas and what he called the "rough justice" ahead in struggles to be both fast and fair. One example was his guideline under the draft plan that people who didn't suffer amputations and who spent an equal number of days in the hospital get the same payouts, even if one person's injury is far more severe.

"This is a horrible undertaking," Feinberg said. "It raises questions that I believe would defy Solomon in getting answers."

Photos: Honoring Boston Marathon bombing victims, survivors

Photos: Honoring Boston Marathon bombing victims, survivors

Three people were killed and more than 250 injured in the two bombings that rocked the Boston Marathon. Just days later, an MIT police officer was killed.

Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell and Lingzi Lu were killed in the blasts.

Krystle Campbell, 29, of Medford, was killed in the blast.

Neighbors and friends remembered 8-year-old bombing victim Martin Richard as a vivacious boy who loved to run, climb and play sports like soccer, basketball and baseball.

Lingzi Lu, a Boston University graduate student, was with friends near the finish line when she was killed in the explosion.

At approximately 10:30 pm on April 18, MIT officer Sean Collier was killed and an explosive shootout occurred in Watertown a few hours later.

The Richards family: (l-r) Jane, Bill, Denise, Henry and Martin. Martin was killed, mom Denise lost vision in one eye and younger sister Jane lost a leg.

Jarrod Clowery in the immediate aftermath of the bombing. His body was pierced with nails and BBs.

Nicole and Michael Gross of Charlotte, N.C. were seriously injured.

Paul Norden, left, and his brother J.P., both suffering limb-loss and major blast-related injuries in the Boston Marathon bombing. This picture is from Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston on May 13, 2013.

Roseann Sdoia was severely injured as a spectator at the Boston Marathon and lost a leg.

Adrianne Haslet, a professional ballroom dancer, lost a leg in the Boston Marathon bombings.

Natalie Stewart, 26, sustained extensive damage to her arms and legs. Her right leg had to be amputated below the knee. GoFundMe page.

Ryan McMahon's back and both arms were broken in a fall from the viewing stands at the Boston Marathon finish line. Her GoFundMe page.

Beth Roche, right, whose left leg was severely injured by one of the bombs that exploded near the Boston Marathon finish line, sits on her bed with her daughter Rebecca Roche, left, at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston.

Jane Richard, 7, Martin Richard's sister, lost a leg in the blast.

Jane has been fitted with a prosthesis after losing her lower leg.

Krystle Campbell was with her friend, Karen Rand, who was also injured in the blast. The women worked together at Summer Shack.

Danlin Zhou, a Boston University student was injured in the blast.

Jeff Bauman Jr., of Chelmsford, seen here with Carlos Arredondo in the moments after the blast, lost two legs.

Kevin White had just left a restaurant with his parents when the first of two bombs that hit the Boston Marathon exploded about 10 feet away. The force of the blast, he said Wednesday, was so strong that it slammed them to the ground, breaking some of his mother's bones and tearing his father's right foot so badly surgeons had to amputate it.

Boston Marathon bombing survivor Roseann Sdoia, of the North End neighborhood of Boston, leaves Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, May 14, 2013. Sdoia lost part of her right leg in the explosions near the finish line.

Alvaro and Martha Galvis, of Nashua, N.H., were both severely injured when they were hit by shrapnel. Martha also had to have her left ring finger amputated.

Heather Abbott, of Newport, R.I., was injured in the blast as she stood near the finish line with friends watching the race. Her left leg had to be amputated.

Aaron Hern, 11, of Martinez, Calif. , was wounded by shrapnel while waiting for his mom to finish the race. He is pictured with parents Alan and Katherine, sister Abby and first lady Michelle Obama at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston a few days after the bombings.

Nicholas Yanni, 32, and his wife were injured in the blast.

Boston Marathon bombing survivor Roseann Sdoia, of Boston, walks down a long corridor as she is followed by her physical therapist Dara Casparian at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, June 20, 2013, in Boston. Sdoia went back to the hospital to learn to walk with her new leg.

Denise Spenard, of Manchester, N.H., says she and a friend were pushed into a restaurant when the first explosion happened. She was struck by shrapnel.

Erika Brannock, left, her mother Carol Phillips Downing and her sister Nicole Gross. Erika and Nicole were cheering on their mother Carol at the Boston Marathon when one of two bombs exploded nearby injuring Nicole and Erika.

Boston Marathon bombing victim Steven Byrne waves as he comes onto the field for a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Kansas City Royals.

MBTA police officer Richard Donohue with MIT Police Officer Sean Collier. The photo of the friends was taken the day they graduated together from the Municipal Police Officers' Academy in 2010.

MBTA Police Officer Richard Donohoe was wounded in the shootout with the bombing suspects.

Brittany Loring sustained severe injuries from the bombing at the finish line at the Boston Marathon. Brittany will graduate from Boston College with a dual degree in Law and Business (JD/MBA) in May.

Jarrod Clowery of Stoneham

Cambridge teacher Jenny Chung was struck by shrapnel at the finish line.

JP and Paul Norden, both Stoneham High graduates, each lost a leg in the bombings at the Boston Marathon.

Marc Fucarile lost his right leg above the knee and the 34-year-old Stoneham man suffered serious burns and has extensive shrapnel wounds, including in his heart.

This April 18, 2013 photo provided by Alfred Colonese shows from left Alfred Colonese, Mick Henn, Dale Abbott, first lady Michelle Obama, Heather Abbott, Jason Geremia, and Michelle Dalrymple at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Heather Abbott was scrambling to get off the sidewalk when the force of the second blast blew her through the restaurant doorway. The day of the bombings, Abbott and a half-dozen friends took in the traditional Patriots' Day Red Sox game at Fenway Park. They left the match early and headed to Forum, where former New England Patriots were gathered to raise money for offensive guard Joe Andruzzi's cancer foundation, and where another friend was tending bar.

Boston Marathon bombing victim Ron Brassard of Epsom, N.H., throws out a ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park in Boston, Tuesday, May 7, 2013.

Celeste Corcoran (R) and her daughter, Sydney Corcoran (L), were both injured in the bombings

Sporting her 4-inch Nine West high heels Heather Abbott of Newport, RI., shows off her new "high-definition" prosthetic leg which allows her to also wear heels and skirts in Warwick, R.I.,, Nov. 7, 2013. Abbott lost her left leg in the April 15, 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.

In this May 22, 2013 photo, Boston Marathon bombing survivor Pete DiMartino, of Rochester, N.Y., smiles during a physical therapy session at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. DiMartino was injured in an explosion near the finish line, which blew away much of one leg and burned the other. “I don’t want anybody feeling sorry for me,” he said. “... I want people to see that this has made me a better person and I want people to become better people through what they see through me.”

Mery Daniel was at the finish line when the bombings took her left leg and much of her right calf. Until the taping of "Boston Strong: Reunited," Daniel had never met the first-responders. including Charles Genero of Boston EMS, who saved her life.

LeeAnn and Nicholas Yanni were both wounded in the bombing.

Marc Fucarile, who lost a leg, says he owes his survival to a Boston firefighter who told him to think about his fiancee and son to stay alive.

Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman acknowledges cheering fans before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Fenway Park prior to a baseball between the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday, May 28, 2013, in Boston.

Marc Fucarile and Jenn Regan announced their engagement in early 2014. The couple have a son, Gavin.

Aaron Hern, 11, of Martinez, Calif. points to the site of the first Boston Marathon bombing to his mother, Katherine, while his father, Alan, wheels him down Boylston Street in Boston's Copley Square, April 25, 2013. Hern was injured during the second bombing at the Boston Marathon finish area on April 15.

Sydney Corcoran, 18, and her mother, Celeste, were injured in the attacks. Sydney was crowned prom queen at Lowell High School's senior prom.

Boston Marathon bombing survivor Rebekah Gregory walks down the isle, where her fiance, Pete DiMartino, also a survivor of the bombings, waits for her during their wedding at Biltmore Estate, in Asheville, N.C., Friday, April 4, 2014. Gregory and DiMartino were at the finish line of the Boston Marathon cheering on DiMartino’s mother.

Bomb victim Brittany Loring was visited in the hospital by Dustin Pedroia

The Obama administration will unveil a major climate change plan Monday aimed at a large reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the nation's coal-burning power plants, a senior administration official told CNN.